What: Spanish La Liga – El Clasico
Who: Barcelona (2nd; 31 points) vs Real Madrid (1st; 32 points)
When: Monday 29th November, 2010, at 20:00 UK time
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Time to Take the Lead
It’s finally here. Europe’s biggest derby is just around the corner as Barcelona play host to Real Madrid in what is arguably one of the fiercest and most exciting match in the world. Rarely have both teams been in fine form at exactly the same time, and this will be put to the test as two of the world’s best clubs joust for La Liga supremacy and even more importantly, bragging rights.
Ever since their shock defeat to Hercules at the beginning at the season, Barcelona have confirmed just why they are one of the best – if not the best – side in the world by embarking on a very good run, one that has seen them top their Champions League group and kept them right up front in the league title race. Now, the Catalan giants have a very good chance of topping the chart with a win at the Camp Nou over their perennial foes, and should recent El Clasico results be taken into consideration, Pep Guardiola’s team have a very high chance of getting it.
One of biggest names since Luis Figo to come back to the Camp Nou – the Portuguese swapped Barcelona for Real Madrid in a controversial move in 2000 – will be Jose Mourinho. The legendary Portuguese coach started as assistant manager at the Blaugrana, before upsetting the fans twice during his managerial career with Chelsea and Internazionale. One of the few people in the game to “crack” the Barcelona code, "The Special One" will certainly be the target of some jeering by the stadium’s faithful, even if club president Sandro Rosell assured Los Blancos with recent comments that Los Cules will be respectful towards the former Porto coach.
Out for Revenge
Much time has passed since Real Madrid last won El Clasico, with their last victory dating back to more than two years ago, when they triumphed over the Catalans by four goals to one at the Santiago Bernabeu. Since then, the likes of Juande Ramos and Manuel Pellegrini have all proven helpless against Barcelona, with the latter particularly flopping at home during the infamous 6-2 drubbing that Los Blancos received on their own turf in May 2009.
With Jose Mourinho in charge however, the nine-time Champions League winners will fancy their chances of getting one over on the current league champions. A master tactician, Mourinho has transformed Real Madrid to one of the best sides in the world on current form and revolutionised the team since his arrival last May. Under his tutorship, Los Blancos remain unbeaten this season, leading the domestic league and their Champions League group. Their defensive line is as good as ever – a natural trait of Mourinho’s teams – while their attack has grown even deadlier with the arrival of stars such as Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria.
One player who is showing a cool head ahead of the encounter is Real’s star Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has been involved in a breathtaking duel with Lionel Messi over the Pichichi award, and it is certain that both will be highly motivated to topple the other on this occasion. Speaking to the press, Ronaldo acknowledged the task that beating Barcelona will pose at the Camp Nou: “They are a difficult team to beat. It’s the same team as in recent years and they are especially strong at home. They have shown that they are right in the hunt with us for the league title.”
Recent form
Barcelona:
Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal (13/11; La Liga)
Almeria 0-8 Barcelona (20/11; La Liga)
Panathinaikos 0-3 Barcelona (24/11; Champions League)
Real Madrid:
Sporting Gijon 0-1 Real Madrid (14/11; La Liga)
Real Madrid 5-1 Athletic Bilbao (20/11; La Liga)
AFC Ajax 0-4 Real Madrid (23/11; Champions League)
Key absences
Barcelona: Gabriel Milito
Real Madrid: Kaka; Ezequiel Garay; Fernando Gago; Sami Khedira (doubt); Gonzalo Higuain (doubt)
Players to watch
Barcelona – Lionel Messi: The Argentinian has been at the centre of the action in recent El Clasico encounters, and his presence will surely require special plans on Mourinho’s part, as the Portuguese prepared during Barca’s encounter with Inter in last season’s Champions League semi-final. Also, Sergio Busquets will have the hard task of breaking up play and anchoring the defence and attack.
Real Madrid – Ricardo Carvalho: Already looking to be one of the best buys of the summer, Ricardo Carvalho has slotted in easily at the heart of the Madrid back four, spreading calm. The spotlight will be focused on young Mesut Ozil too as he makes his first El Clasico bow. After an excellent summer with Germany at the World Cup, the playmaker will be looking to nail his name to Mourinho’s team-sheet, especially with the imminent return of Kaka.
Match prediction
What is certain is that this El Clasico will not fail to entertain. Both teams are currently on a remarkable run, and that should pose problems for each of them. At the Camp Nou, expect Mourinho to use similar tactics to those he deployed when he last faced Barcelona with Inter last season. And while that might not make for a goal-fest, it should allow Los Blancos to avoid defeat. A 1-1 scoreline seems reasonable.
